The Parish’s fried oyster poutine (
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THE VARNISH
118 E. Sixth St., 213-622-9999, 213nightlife.com/thevarnish
A faux speakeasy in the back of Cole’s, a restaurant specializing in French-dip sandwiches, the Varnish features bartenders who make excellent drinks based on the alcohol profile you desire. Ask for something with scotch and you will not be disappointed.
ART WALK
Spring and Main Streets between Second and Ninth streets, downtownartwalk.org
Though the downtown LA gallery district is worth visiting anytime, it peaks on the second Thursday of each month, when galleries such as Blackstone, Huntington and Robert Reynolds stay open late, welcoming visitors to check out contemporary art and take in DJ sets, performances and special installations.
THE PARISH
804 Spring St., 213-225-2400, theparishla.com
Headed up by chef Casey Lane, who drew heat with his Tasting Kitchen in Venice, the Parish feels like an LA version of a British gastropub. It’s ultra-casual, but dishes like fried oyster poutine, braised bacon with uni and fried olives with chickpeas are worthy of fancier restaurants. The beer selection is formidable, with 20 offerings — many local — on tap.
LUXE CITY CENTER HOTEL
1020 S. Figueroa St., 213-748-1291, luxecitycenter.com
Across the street from LA Live and the Staples Center, this hotel — built for both leisure and business travelers — is an ideal pre-game/concert or post-game/concert perch. (The Upgrade U package during Beyoncé’s LA stop on July 1 includes Executive Suite accommodations, bottle service in a terrace cabana, a tasting menu, in-room dessert, breakfast and valet parking for $699, double occupancy.) The bustling patio bar is a destination in its own right, the hotel’s new restaurant will debut this summer, and the quiet, comfortable rooms (from $249) offer a hideaway from all the activity downstairs.
EXCHANGE LA
618 S. Spring St., 213-627-8070, exchangela.com
The conversion of the landmarked 1929 LA Stock Exchange building into a four-story 25,000-square-foot nightclub features regular appearances from dance-music heavyweights, thanks to the booking prowess of Insomniac, the crew behind Electric Daisy Carnival. June shows include Nadia Ali and Sasha.